What's New in #WestSac: Washington Firehouse

Amazing food and live music in a beautiful historic building, brought back to life in a collaboration between an innovative developer and established restaurateur?

Yep, you’re going to want to check this out.

In about a month, one of the newest projects on the Sacramento scene will make its grand opening, just slightly west of the grid.

The Washington Firehouse, located at 317 Third Street, is one of the first buildings you see coming off the “I” Street Bridge into West Sacramento.

On the first floor, you’ll get to enjoy the amazing offerings of Burgers & Brew. This restaurant – which also has locations in midtown Sacramento, Davis, and Chico – offers up some of the best food in town.

From a Bacon & Jalapeño Cheeseburger to a Tofu Burger, and everything in between, the food has often resulted in lines out the door. But don’t limit your expectations to great food. The Washington Firehouse will also serve something for your musical appetite.

The second floor will feature a jazz and blues club called Station #1, and the space will also be available for private events.

But what really makes this new spot such a stand out is the building itself. The result of a bold vision by D&S Development, the 6,500 square-foot formally vacant firehouse has been rehabilitated in spectacular form. The D&S team have a passion for historic renovations, so preserving the charm of the 1938 firehouse (that’s been vacant since 1997) was an exciting challenge for the developer.

The end result is really special.

The building features three patios – one upstairs to cater to the Jazz club and two downstairs for the Burgers & Brew crowd. And one of the patios has something no other restaurant in the area can claim- a historic fire engine nicknamed “Old Mary” on proud display, marking the history of the building.

The tribute to the building’s roots doesn’t stop there. Historical news articles about the area have been artistically restored by local artist Chris Lango (See also: GOTG review), and will be featured throughout the build.

If the team from D&S have any say, this won’t be the only new attraction in this urban area. They see the Firehouse as a catalyst for the revitalization of the Washington Square neighborhood.

Image credit: D&S Development

“This area has so much to offer and it’s exciting to see it really take shape,” said Miry. “This new project joins places like Edible Petal and Devil May Care Ice Cream on the same block. This part of West Sacramento is prime for more high-density housing and other exciting projects in the coming years.”

“After almost 20 years of stops and starts, the building has new life because of the developer’s passion for historic buildings and keen eye for neighborhood character,” Richards said. “When you get inside, you will feel the cool vibe of the place. If buildings can be happy, this building is ecstatic now!”

West Sacramento is really coming into its own and giving downtown Sacramento a run for its money. I can’t wait to see what the conversion of Washington Firehouse brings to the area.